With widespread age contributions, Team WPGA secures third straight Palmer Cup
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications & Mike Dudurich, Contributing Writer • September 4, 2025
LATROBE – Carson Kittsley got a day off school Thursday. But he still managed to learn a little history — and make some of his own.
Kittsley and 13 other amateur golfers led Team WPGA to its third straight victory in the Palmer Cup Matches, scoring a convincing 11.5-7.5 win over 14 professional players representing the Tri-State PGA.
For Kittsley, a 16-year-old who attends Fox Chapel High School and who claimed a pair of match wins on the day, a chance to play in the prestigious event was a bit of a rarity for someone his age, but certainly not for someone of his talent level.
“I’m super honored to be a part of this team,” said Kittsley, the 2024 PIAA state champion. “It's great. It was fun being out here today and it's really a memory that I'll cherish for a while.”
The competition, held for the last 30 years at Arnold Palmer’s Latrobe Country Club, annually pits amateurs against professionals in two rounds of match play.
The morning rounds featured five Four-Ball matches, which the WPGA emerged from with a 3-2 lead.
Kittsley teamed up with fellow 16-year-old Michael Quallich to win in the morning over Shawn McCall and Lucas Cromeenes.
“It was fun playing with Mike again,” said Kittsley of Quallich, who each represented the WPGA at the 61st Williamson Cup last month in Laval, Quebec. “I carried him a little bit on the front, but he picked me up in the back, which was nice.”
Scott Jordan and Ryan Costello beat Justin Collins and Brett Carman 3 & 2 in the Four-Ball contest. Devin Gee and Alex Aulerich triumphed over Amani D’Ambrosio and Nathan Piatt 2 & 1.
In the rainy afternoon, 14 singles matches opened the door for any scenario to unfold. Kittsley, who finished runner-up in this summer’s West Penn Amateur Championship, received somewhat of a unique matchup for his singles round in the afternoon, as the Oakmont Country Club member faced Aulerich, an assistant pro at Oakmont.
“It was fun,” said Kittsley, who controlled the match in a 5 & 4 win. “I mean, it was a little awkward, but it was it was fun nonetheless.”
His victory, combined with seven more and a tie for Team WPGA in the singles matches, led the squad to the overall triumph.
“There are a lot of good amateur players around here,” said Bob Crnjarich, a senior player who won his afternoon round over Joe Boros 1 Up. “There's no doubt about that.
“Some of us grizzled veterans have been around for a while, and hopefully we can pass some of that down to the youngsters coming along.”
West Penn secured wins from a variety of ages. Three of the WPGA’s four senior players were victorious, including Crnjarich, Ted Grassi and Arnie Cutrell.
“Match play, it’s mono e mono,” said Crnjarich. “When you think about it, you really just need to play the course. But you know what the other player’s doing, so you change your game, as well."
Well established mid-amateur player Ryan Costello knocked off Lucas Cromeenes and recent college graduate Scott Jordan dropped Shawn McCall 3 & 1. A pair of Westmoreland County natives, Kevin Fajt and John Aber, dueled it out for a second straight year, with Fajt getting revenge from a lopsided loss in 2024 with a 1 Up victory.
“Yeah, he beat me pretty good (last year),” Fajt said. “But I played good today. He’s been good for a long time and he’s really tough to beat. I’m pretty happy. Winning is always great, it still means a lot, although it’s different without Mr. Palmer being here.”
Aber shared the sentiment that, beyond the wins and losses, the day had a larger meaning.
“I wish Mr. Palmer was still around,” said Aber, the head professional at Allegheny Country Club. “He was one of my dad’s contemporaries. It’s an honor to play at his course. And it means a lot to play for Bob Ford.”
Ford, the long-time head professional at Oakmont Country Club, was the captain of the Tri-State PGA team.
He watched as two players he’s quite familiar with duked it out in an Oakmont Country Club-based showdown. 2024 WPGA Player of the Year Nathan Piatt edged current Oakmont head professional Devin Gee 2 & 1 in a thrilling match.
“I hit some good putts that didn’t go,” Gee said of Piatt, who will make his way to Georgia for the PGA TOUR’s Q-School in the coming weeks. “(Piatt) makes a lot of birdies, and I didn’t make enough. I’ve been playing great all summer, but this is always such a fun day. I have so many cool memories here, it’s really special. I’ve been watching these guys since they were little. And that makes this day cool.”
The WPGA, which began the Palmer Cup with 12 consecutive losses, has now gone 8-3-1 against the Tri-State’s pros since 2014.
Following the competition, players from both sides shared dinner, and heard stories about Arnold Palmer from Ford, who sat next to an empty chair in the Latrobe Country Club grill room that, for years, was occupied regularly by Palmer.
“It doesn't get any better than that,” Crnjarich said of the meaningfulness of the event. “Arnold's my favorite golfer of all time, so just to be asked to play in this is a total honor.”
Ford, surrounded by the 28 players inside of the historic and ornate clubhouse, also highlighted the youthful talent that shined during the day, particularly Kittsley and Quallich, praising their play while also revealing what could be in store for players of their talent level: professional golf.
“It was cool to hear that,” Kittsley said. “He made it seem like we're in good hands for the future, which I'm excited about. I’m excited to see where the future takes me.”
Match results for the Palmer Cup can be found here.
For any media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
About the WPGA
Founded in 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region. Started by five Member Clubs, the association now has nearly 200 Member Clubs and nearly 37,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.